Locking coat-hanger.



No. 672,390. PatentedApr. l6, I90l. G. F. SUDHEIMER 8|. F. THON.

LOCKING COAT HANGER.

' (Application filed Mar; 6 1900.) (No Model.)

if err.

GEORGE F. SUDHEIMER AND FRANK THON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LOCKlNG CQAT HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,390, dated April 16, 190i.

Application filed March 6, 1899. Serial No- '70'7,984=- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE F. SUD- HEIMER and FRANK THoN, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Coat-Hangers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

Our invention relates to locking coat-hangers; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of our im proved locking coat-hanger, the same being in an unlocked position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the coat-hanger, parts thereof being broken away and in section and with the face-plate of the lock removed in order to illustrate the interior mechanism thereof.

In the construction of the device as shown, 1 indicates a suitable rectangular base, which may be attached to any suitable point in a room or wherever the hanger is to be used. Firmly secured to the front face of the base 1, by screws or in any suitable manner, is a base-plate 2, and secured to and extending.

forwardly from the center of "said base-plate 2 is a rectangular sheet-metal casing 3, the same being provided with a removableplate 4. Formed in the top and bottom of this casing 3, at a point adjacent the center thereof, are the apertures 5, and vertically arranged within said casing, between said apertures 5 and the forward end thereof, are the partitions 6. Arranged for movement through apertures formed in the upper portions of said partitions 6 is a locking-bolt 7, the same being provided with the integral stem 8, which operates through the forward one of the partitions 6, and an expansive coil-spring 9 is located upon said stem between the forward partition and the rear end of the bolt 7, thus making said bolt spring-actuated. That end of the bolt 7 which projects through the rear one of the partitions 6 is beveled or provided with an inclined face 10. The under side of the bolt 7 is provided with a plurality of teeth 11, with which mesh a small pinion 12, the same being rotatably held in the lower portion of the casing 3. The circular lug 13, that is formed integral with the face of said pin- .a rectangular aperture 18 provided with said aperture, occupies a position just below and slightly to the rear of the.

ion 12, projects through a circular aperture formed in the plate 4, and in the said lug and in the body of the pinion is formed a key-seat 14. The plate 4is provided with a slot or notch which registers with this key-seat to permit the insertion of the key, and in applying the key the shank passes through this slot and enters the key-seat 14 in the pinion 12, while the stem rests in that portion of the key-seat which is in the lug 13. Secured to the outer end of the casing 3 is a verticallyarranged bar 15, the upper end of which carries a plate 16, the same being curved in crosssection and curved throughout its length. The top of the plate 16 is covered with suitable material, such as plush or velvet, or it may be covered with rubber or any suitable pliable material. Said bar 15 is also provided with an aperture 15*", in which the stem 8 of the bolt 7 passes on the unlocking of said bolt 7.

Fixed to the under side of the rear end of the casing 3 and extending downwardly and upwardly therefrom is a hook 17, the outer end of which is bent into a horizontal plane and formed into a disk 18, in which is formed Said disk 18,

lower one of the apertures 5.

Fixed to and extending outwardly from the face of the plate' 2 immediately above the casing 4 is a bifurcated bracket 19, in which is pivotally arranged the rear end of an arm 20, the same extending forwardly a short distance and then being bent upwardly in the form of an inverted U, and the outer end of this bend is extended over the upper end of the bar 15, and from thence said arm is extend de upwardly to form the hook 21. A plate 22, identical in size and contour with the plate 16, is fixed to the under side of the outer portion of this arm 20, and the under sideof said plate 22 is lined with plush, velvet, or rubber. Secured to the lower end of the hook 21 is an eye 23, to which is secured the upper end of a cord or chain 24. A short coil-spring 25 is arranged upon the upper end of the plate 2, one end of said spring being fixed thereto, the opposite end extending upwardly and forwardly and being passed through an eye 26, secured to the top of the inverted- U-shaped bend of the arm 20. The

normal tendencypf this spring 25 is to elevate said arm 20.

Pivotally secured to the arm 20, a short distance in front of the rear end thereof, is the upper end of a curved arm 27, the same tapering slightly toward its lower end, and formed through said arm 27 is a rectangular aperture 28.

The unlocked position of the coat-hanger is illustrated in Fig. 1. When it is desired to position a coat or other garment upon the hanger and to lock the same therein, the collar of the coat or other garment is passed upwardly from the plate 16 in such a manner that said collar passes beyond said plate 16 and occupies a position above the forward end of the casing 3, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The operator now engages the lower end of the chain or cable 2 1 and pulls the same downwardly. This movement pulls the forward end of the arm 20 downwardly and brings the plate 22 directly onto that portion of the garment that is lying upon the plate 16. This downward movement of the arm 20 necessarily lowers the arm 27, and the same passes downwardly through the casing 3, and when the plate 22 engages against the garment upon the plate 16 the rectangular opening 28 will have come into alinement with the end of the locking-bolt 7, provided with the inclined face 10. The power stored in the expansive coil-spring 9, which was heretofore compressed, will now exert itself and the locking-bolt 7 will move rearwardly, and the end provided with the beveled face 10 will pass into the opening 28, thereby locking the arms 27 and in their downward positions. This downward movement of the arm 27 brings its extreme lower end through the aperture 18 in the disk 19, and if an umbrella or cane is positioned in the hook 17 just previous to the lowering of the arm 20 said umbrella or cane will be locked in said hook. When the arm 20 is brought downwardly, the outer end of the spring is necessarily erased brought downwardly and power is stored in the coil of said spring 25.

To unlock the hanger in order to remove the coat therefrom, the operator inserts the proper key in the key-seat 14 of the pinion 12 and by means of said key partially rotates said pinion. By so doing the locking-bolt 7 is moved forwardly until the rear end thereof passes out of the aperture 28. Then the power stored in the coil-spring 25 will act to elevate the arm 20, thus necessarily elevating the arm 27 and plate 22. The coat can now be removed from the hanger, and said hanger stands in an unlocked position until brought downwardly by pulling downwardly upon the chain or cable 24.

Our improved coat-hanger is very simple in construction and operation, very securely looks a coat or other garment, and, if desired, a soft or flexible hat may be locked between the plates 16 and 22. The device can be made very ornamental and out of polished material, and will therefore present a very neat and pleasing appearance as a fixture in a hall, coat-room, or wherever used.

We claim- In a device of the class described, a casing, a spring-actuated arm above said casing, an apert-ured arm 27 carried by the firstmentioned arm and projecting through said casing, a spring-actuated bolt within said casing for engaging with said apertured arm,

teeth 11 integral with said bolt, a pinion 12 having a key-seat 14 rotatablysupported in said casing and meshing with said teeth, and means for rotating said pinion, thereby unlocking the first-mentioned arm, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we affiX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. SUDHEIMER. FRANK THON. Witnesses:

EDWARD E. LoNcAN, ALFRED A. E-IoKs. 

